Roethlisberger Urges Steelers to Let Rodgers Call Plays
Former star Ben Roethlisberger believes giving Aaron Rodgers more control at the line will improve Pittsburgh's offense.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Football
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Ben Roethlisberger has suggested that the Pittsburgh Steelers should grant Aaron Rodgers more autonomy in calling plays during games. He argues that this approach would make opposing defenses less effective while providing better support for the offensive line.
Why it matters
The Steelers are currently 4-2, but their early-season offensive struggles prompted calls for a tactical shift. Roethlisberger believes shifting control to the 42-year-old quarterback will help the team maintain its recent scoring rhythm.
The Steelers offense struggled early, converting only 5 of 25 third-down attempts. However, the team has averaged 28.5 points per game over its last four matchups.
The players
Ben Roethlisberger
He is a former NFL quarterback who spent his entire professional career playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers
He is a 42-year-old veteran quarterback currently in his final NFL season playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mike McCarthy
He is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers who previously coached Aaron Rodgers for 13 years.
The details
Roethlisberger points to the team's success when Rodgers takes initiative, suggesting that the veteran signal-caller should call his own plays from the opening drive. This strategy follows a difficult start to the 2026 season, which included a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots where Rodgers was sacked four times and threw an interception.
Timeline
Week 2 2026: The Pittsburgh Steelers lost 20-3 to the New England Patriots.
October 18 2026: The Pittsburgh Steelers played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 7 2026: The Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to face the New Orleans Saints.
Week 9 2026: The Pittsburgh Steelers have their bye week.
Season Trajectory
The current debate over play-calling control updates the long-standing professional relationship established between Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy during their 13 years together in Green Bay. This tactical shift could determine whether the 4-2 Steelers remain serious contenders as they head into the second half of the season.
The potential shift to Rodgers calling plays from the opening drive could significantly impact the team's third-down conversion rates. Fans should monitor whether this change reduces the high sack counts seen in games like the Week 2 loss to New England.
The takeaway
Empowering veteran quarterbacks to read and react to defenses in real-time is a common strategy to mitigate pressure and keep drives alive. Adapting to the strengths of a legendary player like Rodgers often requires coaches to relinquish traditional play-calling hierarchies.
What happens next
The Steelers face the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, which will be the next opportunity to see if the team implements changes to their play-calling approach.
Further reading
For more updates on the team, check out the latest news in Pittsburgh Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
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